1911 Birthday of David Margulois, better known as Broadway producer David Merrick (1911-2000), whose highly developed taste, fierty temper and flamboyant approach to public relations helped earn him the sobriquet "the abominable showman." Among his long-running hits were Hello, Dolly!, Oliver! and 42nd Street.

1927 The call is for First-Class Passengers Only at the Arts Theatre in London. Written by Osbert and Sacheverell Sitwell, the comedy stars Edith Sitwell as a social climber seeking retaliation. The cast includes Val Gielgud, Sybil Arundale, Phyllis Dean, and Esme Percy.

1937 The International Ladies Garment Workers Union turns producer today to present a union-themed musical revue, Pins and Needles, which runs an astonishing 1,108 performances and launches the career of composer Harold Rome.

2008 Actress Patricia Marand, who was nominated for a 1966 Tony Award for her portrayal of Lois Lane in the Broadway musical It's a Bird…It's a Plane...It's Superman, dies in her Manhattan home. The cause was brain cancer. She was 74.